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March is the wettest month in the Sequoia National Forest, according to the Weather Channel. While weather within the forest can exhibit slight variations from north to south, elevation plays the largest factor in determining weather in particular sights within the forest. Spread over more than 1.1 million acres of land, the forest moves through four diverse ecosystems as elevations vary by more than 10,000 feet.

Temperatures

Moving upward from the foothills, the national forest includes desert, chaparral, deciduous forests and coniferous forests. Within these four distinct zones, each within its own elevation range, the park experiences a different temperature range. In the lowlands -- desert and chaparral -- March temperatures typically hover between daytime temperatures in the low 60s and evening temperatures in the low 40s, although temperatures can dip below freezing even at these lower elevations. In the forest belt -- between 4,000 and 7,000 feet -- temperatures are about 20 degrees lower than the lowlands, with evening temperatures below freezing and daytime highs in the low 40s. North of 7,000 feet, temperatures remain below freezing, dipping down to zero in the evenings, throughout the month.

Precipitation

In Sequoia in the winter, precipitation doesn't always mean rain. From the foothills to the peaks, elevations within the park range from 1,000 feet to 12,000 feet. Depending on your elevation, you may experience a rain shower in the foothills of the forest while the higher elevation trails see snow. Even though the lowlands only experience an average of 2.33 inches in March, prepare for precipitation during your stay. Low-hanging clouds frequently blanket the lowlands for days at a time, providing an on-and-off drizzle, while snow falls in the mountains continue through March and well into May.

Road Closures

The Forest Service frequently closes roads in the national forest in the winter due to a wide variety of reasons. Snow, the most obvious motive, is not necessarily the most common cause in March, when mountain snow is typically beginning to melt. Mudslides due to rain and snow melt obscure roadways, while freeze-thaw action within rocks causes rock slides. Pack snow chains if you plan to visit higher elevations or see snow on the weather forecast and visit a chain concierge like the one along the General's Highway for help mounting your chains. Always check both the Forest Service and Park Service websites for up-to-date road closure information, since the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park slices through the middle of the Sequoia National Forest.

Available Activities

Although the national forests ostensibly remain open throughout the year, available activities in the winter depend largely on the season's snowfall and current road closures. Some years high-country roads close in October, while other years the roads remain open into December due to later snowfall. While road closures and freezing evening temperatures limit activities in Lake Isabella and Lake Hume, snowfall opens up the backcountry to skiers and showshoers. In the monument area, the Forest Service grooms roads expressly for cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.

About the Author

Gabi Logan began writing food and travel articles in 2004. Logan's work has appeared in Boston-area online magazines, including "The Second Glass" and "The Savvy Bostonian," and in publications at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Italian language and culture from Smith College.

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